Search for Bowen Island woman Shilanne Stedmances called off

The worst is assumed, but Squamish RCMP say officially it is still a missing person case.

Twenty-two year-old Shilanne Stedmances's disappearance from her family home on Bowen Island on Nov. 4 sparked an extensive search with the help of RCMP, the Coast Guard, Air 1, the Vancouver PD Marine Section and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team as well as Search and Rescue units and the fire department.

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An update from Squamish RCMP on Nov. 28 said the search of the waters has concluded.

In the weekly incident report dated Nov. 4 to 10, from the Emergency Co-ordination Centre, it says the search and rescue units from Squamish, the North Shore, Lions Bay, Ridge Meadows and Coquitlam were called off after "the location of the subject's clothing near a marine/ocean location."

The Bowen Island Undercurrent wrote in their Nov. 14 editorial that a moment of silence was held for the young woman, her family and community during Remembrance Day ceremonies on the island, days after the land search was called off. At the time, the Bowen Island RCMP were still searching the marine area by boat.

"RCMP located some items close to Shilanne's residence which indicated she may have fallen into the water but a meticulous examination of the area by boat and RCMP divers have been unable to locate Shilanne," the Nov. 28 release stated.

"The search of Bowen Island and the surrounding waters have concluded but Bowen Island RCMP will continue to investigate Shilanne as a Missing Person, following up on all leads, using Missing Person protocol, and additional agencies."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bowen Island RCMP at 604-947-0516.